Electric switch



Aug. 18, 1925.

J. D. HILLIARD ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 10, 1921 Inventor: John D;Hilliard.

Patented Aug. 18, 1925. V

UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. HILLIARD, (3F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC CO'MPANY, A CORPORATIQN 6.1 NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SITCH.

Application filed August 10, 1921.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to those inwhich the con tacts are separable in an insulating fluid. In switches ofthis type heretofore cin-- ployed, use has been ma e of means wherebythe pressure created by the are at the opening of the switch is utilizedto create a blast of oil which is directed into the path of the arc andserves to extinguish the same.

According to my present invention which is a continuation in part of mycopending application Serial No. 443,440, filed February 8, 1921, I seekto improve the c1rcu1tinterrupting capacity .of switches of thischaracter by causing portions of the arc to be formed in two separatechambers which communicate with one another by passages other than thatthrough which the arc stream passes. These passages are so arranged thatinsulating fluid under pressure created by the portion of the arc in onechamber is forced as a cool blast unmixed with are gases into the arcstream in the other chamber.

In the form here illustrated, I have shown my invention as applied to aswitch for opening high power circuits wherein means is provided toprevent ejection of oil from the switch vessel and whereby the gasesresultin from the dissociation and vaporization oil may be cooled to apoint at which they may be safely expelled from the apparatus.

Other advantages and objects will appear from the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying draw ing, Which represents insection a switch embodying my invention and in which indicates a vesseladapted to contain an insulating fluid to the level indicated, and whichis constructed to withstand high internal pressure. This vessel isprovided with a cover 11 through which passes an outlet tube 12 designedto conduct away the gases formed by the arc. A lower stationaryelectrode 9 located within a recess 13 Serial in. 491,128.

formed in the bottom of the vessel 10 is adapted to cooperate with amovable electrode 14 which passes upwardly through the top of the vesseland in the position shown extends throu h a funnel-shaped opening orpassage 15 Eormed in an insulating partition 16. This partition dividesthe vessel into a lower and upper chamber which I will tespectively terma compression chamber and discharge chamber. Surrounding the electrodeand depending from the partition 16 is a cylindrical shield 17 ofinsulating material and connecting the space outside of the shield withthe funnel-shaped opening are passages or outlets 18 and 19, Passages 18are merely openings formed in the partition ,16, while passages 19 areformed not only by openings but have tubular extensions 20 therethroughwhich are designed to project into the body of oil surrounding theshield 17. It is tobe noted that passages 18 and 19 are arranged aboutand inclined to the axis of passage 15. Either passages 1801' passages19 may be omitted if desired. Above the partition 16 and surrounding themovable electrode are battles 22 and 23 which are supported uponinsulating rods 24 and are so arranged as to impede the upward movementof the material ejected from the vicinity of the are at the opening ofthe switch. As a means for further impedin the movement of the materialand for coo ing the same, in order that the va rs may be condensed andthe gases cooled tb a temperature at which they may safely be expelledfrom the apparatus, 1 fill the upper portion of the vessel 10 withgravel 25. This is preferably composed of quartz pebbles having adlameter of from to 4 inch. As a means for supporting the gravel, Iprovide a perforated plate 26, which rests upon therods 24 and may besecured if desired to the walls of the vessel 10. I may rovide thevessel with an inner lining o insulating material to prevent arcing tothe metallic walls of the vessel, in which case the plate 26 would bepartially supported on the top of the lining. The gravel 25, as shown,extends upwardly into the tube, although if desired it may terminate atthe top of the vessel 10.

In order to prevent gas in the vessel from escaping around theelectrode14, there 15 through insulators 31 and 32, and through which theelectrode 14 passes, a stufling box 33. This preferably comprises aleather disk 37 which surrounds the electrode 14 and a metal cap 35against which the disk is adapted to be forced by pressure of the gaswithin the vessel 10. A shield 36 separates the stuffing box 33 from thegravel 25,

In operation the electrode 14 being normally in contact with theelectrode 9, the switch is opened by raising the former by any suitablemechanism, not shown. An arc is at first formed between the electrodesbeneath the partition 16 and as the electrode 14 continues to rise isdrawn up into the funnelshaped opening 15. The pressure created by theare or that portion of the arc beneath the partition 16 acts throughoutthe body of oil in the pressure chamber with the result that oil isviolently forced through the passages 18 and 19 into the arc streamwithin and above the funnel-shaped opening 15, and serves quickly toextinguish the arc. The material forced upwardly bythe arc passes aroundthe baffles 22 and 23 and through the gravel 35 which function in themanner heretofore described. 4

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In a switch, a vessel ada ted to contain an insulating fluid andprovi ed with a partition forming two chambers and having a restrictedopening therein, electrodes separable within said fluid to form an arewhich extends into each of said chambers, and means whereby the pressurecaused by the portion of the arc in one chamber forces insulating fluidaround said opening into the arc stream in the other of said chainbers.

2. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid andprovided with a partition forming an upper and lower chamber and havinga restricted opening therein, electrodes separable within said fluidto'form an are which extends into each of said chambers and through saidrestricted opening and means whereby the pressure caused by the portionof the arc in the lower chamber forces insulating fluid from said lowerchamber around said opening into the arc stream in the upper chamber.

3. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid andformed with a compression chamber and a discharge chamber, electrodesseparable within said insulating fluid to form an are which extends froma point within said compression chamber through a restricted passage andinto said discharge chamber, means whereby the pressure created by theportion of the are within the compression chamber forces a blast ofinsulating fluid from a point within said compression chamber into thearc stream in said discharge chamber, and a shield between said passageand the point within said compression chamber from which said insulatingfluid is forced.

4. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid, apartition therein forming upper and lower chambers and having arestricted opening therein, and relatively movable electrodes in saidlower chamber, one of said electrodes being movable through saidrestricted opening to draw an are extending in each of said chambers,said partition having openings displaced from said restricted openingthrough which the pressure created by the portion of the arc in saidlower chamber may force a blast of oil into that part of the arc in saidupper chamber.

5. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid andprovided with a compression chamber and a discharge chamber, electrodesadapted to'form an are within each of said chambers, said compressionchamber being provided with an outlet communicating with said dischargechamber whereby upon the formation of the are an insulating fluid willbe projected from the pressure chamber into the path of the arc in saiddischarge chamber, and a shield located within said pressure chamber soas to prevent gases formed by the are within said pressure chamber fromentering said outlet.

6. In a switch of the fluid break ty e, a chamber adapted to containinsulating uid, stationary and movable contact members separable to forman arc in said chamber, 3

the upper wall of said chamber having an opening therein for saidmovable contact member, said Wall having a plurality of inclinedpassages therein for conveying fluid from said chamber into said openingand 1 means forming a gas collecting space around said movable contactmember for preventing the gas liberated by said are from reaching saidpassages.

7. In a switch of the fluid break vessel adapted to contain insulatingpartition extending across said vessel forming a plurality of chambersand having an opening therein, a stationary contact member t al as; a

carried at one end of said vessel, a movable I contact member adapted toextend through the opening in said partition and to engage saidstationary contact and a shield extend ing from said partition into thechamber adjacent said stationary contact, said shield surrounding butspaced from said movable contact member and said partition havinginclined openings connecting the said opening therein with said chamberat points without said shield.

8. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid, apartition dividing said vessel into lower and upper chambers and formedwith a funnel-shaped passage therethrough, a stationary electrode withinsaid vessel adapted to contain insulating fluid, a

transverse partition therein forming upper and lower chambers, andhaving a central opening therein, a movable contact rod extendingthrough said opening, a stationary contact at the bottom of said lowerchamber, an annular shield depending from said partition and surroundingsaid contact rod, said shield being spaced from said rod and adapted toform a gas collecting space, said partition having passages formedtherein to con vey fluid from without said shield to said centralopening.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of August,1921.

JOHN D. HILLIARD.

